Questions tagged [reverse-engineering]

The process of taking a completed system and determining details of its design by analysing it; may have legal limitations or ramifications in different jurisdictions.

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How to reverse cellphone firmware

I want to get full list of supported AT commands and other undocumented codes for some cell phone. I found that using strings command (on linux or win alternative) ...
Eugene's user avatar
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Understanding/simulating an old amplifier power supply

I have an old amplifier that was home-built by someone, and I'm trying to reverse-engineer the power supply (for a start) to understand how it works, and to educate myself. However, I cannot get the ...
Michel's user avatar
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Purpose of this IC in USB 3.0 Hub

I'm trying to design my own USB 3.0 hub based on this commercial design, I can understand everything in this design except the usage of IC "ASM1543". Unfortunately there is no datasheet ...
Anuradha's user avatar
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Can you determine needed input voltage from just looking at this circuitboard?

Question poster's level of knowledge: BEGINNER/NOVICE/MENTALLY CHALLENGED Device: A stage lighting pan/tilt motor, for one axis. Used in sets of two to provide remotely controlled X and Y movement ...
111936's user avatar
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Best materials to prevent reverse engineering of PCBA components? [duplicate]

I have an overmolded PCBA on a cable with passive components only. Some of the components are hard to identify, but I'm still concerned about the possibility of competitors trying to reverse engineer ...
user9272's user avatar
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How can I line up top and bottom photos of a PCB?

I'm trying to reverse-engineer a PCB. I have some photos of the top and bottom, but lining them up is tricky as they were taken free-hand. Is there an easy way to line them up?
Nick T's user avatar
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Vintage LM317T Linear PSU Improvement Suggestions

Recently I came into possession of two very old linear PSU devices from 1993. I replaced the caps and tested the devices and both work. I have been using them in conjunction with 12 7Ah lead acid ...
Jonas's user avatar
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Reverse engineering alarm keypad protocol

I'm trying to reverse engineer the protocol that an old home alarm system uses to communicate with the keypads. Connected via 4 wires: GND 13.2V DATA CLOCK I've managed to connect the wires to a ...
Muxa's user avatar
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Is there any advantage if the PFC inductor is split in between +ve and -ve input line?

While doing the reverse engineering this is what I observed. The PFC inductor is having 8 set of pins , out of which 4 are shorted to input (+) and 4 are shorted to GND (input return). Obviously , ...
Divya K.S's user avatar
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Help discovering communication protocol used on faulty LCD matrix display

I own a device that has faulty 256 x 64 dot matrix display (flat cable damage + some bug infestation). After a disassembly I discovered that display is connected via 20-pin connect (soldered pins). I ...
Vladimir Djuricic's user avatar
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Missing Connector Pieces

There are missing connector pieces in this PCB that I was working on and I swear that there was no connector there in the first place, so I ruled out me going insane.I circled the connectors in gray. ...
Sigma6RPU's user avatar
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Reverse engineering my robot vacuum

I am reverse engineering my Dirt Devil M612 Spider 2.0 vacuum cleaner as a hobby project, such that later on, I can use a micro-controller to run it myself. I was looking into how the motors were ...
Mart's user avatar
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Pinout on legacy audio jack

The headphone jack on my old (= 20th century) Daewoo TV 20A5 is broken -- the tip of a plug is stuck inside. As the TV itself is working fine, I would like to replace the jack, or rather jerry-rig a ...
tlossen's user avatar
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Best desoldering technique for reverse engineering, or maybe UART

So I'm trying to play with an EPS motor. I was able to get it to this stage while still functioning (can bus still alive and motor spins), but I want to see what processor is uses and see if I can ...
royjr's user avatar
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How to tell what serial protocol is used on a DB9 connector?

I'm trying to reverse engineer communication between a host and client device that uses a DB9 connector. I'm able to measure voltage between the devices with a breakout board and multimeter. The pin-...
Luke's user avatar
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How to import .csv file using Pulse View?

I used an osciloscope to analize a JTAG communication, I exported the data as .csv file do that I can decode it. I'm using PulseView to do it. But I'm having problems to import the .csv file to ...
Daniel's user avatar
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Reverse-engineering RS485/Mechatrolink-II front-end design

I'm trying to reverse-engineer Mechatrolink-II front-end circuitry. Its physical layer is simple RS485 (with isolation transformer) running at ~10Mbps. Here is the schematic I obtained from the PCB of ...
kutukvpavel's user avatar
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2 answers
357 views

What software use to hack wireless protocol ( logic analyze ) USBee

Q: What software do you use for logic analyze? Why: I try to hack(reverse engineering) my home wireless heating system control to make my own central control unit. Wireless: My heating system uses ...
Fires_CZ's user avatar
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356 views

Decoding a Two-Wire SPI-esque Serial Protocol

I'm working on a project that involves the optical sensor from a mouse. I've got the original control PCB (still populated, save for the optical sensor itself), and I've got the optical sensor on my ...
Helpful's user avatar
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Reverse engineering: Relay driver design consideration

While reverse engineering a garden twilight switch I frowned upon the fact that there is no positive feedback for the OPAMP. Rather than that I found a simple top detector D7/C5/R5 to drive the output ...
jippie's user avatar
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Missing Component Pieces from a PCB [closed]

This PCB is from a old Sharp 1999 TV I have been reverse engineering lately; also sorry for any bad images. I have noticed that there are some "missing" components in the holes of: D4002, D4003, ...
Sigma6RPU's user avatar
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Sourcing An Image Sensor? [closed]

I'm wanting to create a basic digital camera, I have most of it figured out... except for the image sensor itself. Looking in the normal places (digikey, mouser), I'm finding some very basic, low ...
Matt Egan's user avatar
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Is it advisable to try to discover a place to make a ground connection on a board with a separate AC power supply?

I am building a device consisting of a microcontroller (an Arduino mini) attached to various output devices, which will be triggered using a wireless doorbell receiver. The receiver is a single board ...
Jeremy's user avatar
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Replay Philips Livingcolors remote signal

I have a Phillips Living Colors Lamp, which comes with a remote control. I'd like to be able to capture/replay the signal of the remote control so I can control the lamp with a microcontroller (...
user3231622's user avatar
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1 answer
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DE-9 monitoring solutions?

My treadmill connects to its controls via a DE-9 port interface and I'd like to reverse engineer it so I can control and monitor it via my computer instead. I would hope it perhaps uses RS232, but ...
user1063042's user avatar
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2 answers
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How to open hermetic TO packages?

I would like to open a TO-18 can to look at die-bonding/heatsinking and do some electrical experiments with increased airflow. Is there a non-destructive way to do this? My only thought is to drill a ...
bobuhito's user avatar
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1 answer
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Generate netlist from manufacturing files in Altium

I have manufacturing (gerber) files as well as BOMS for a whole bunch of PCB's. Edit: I have the following available to work with. BOM, gerber, NC Drill, ODB++, pick & place. I desperately need to ...
BobaJFET's user avatar
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Possible purpose for a resistor and diode in parallel on a short transmission line to a digital input?

During some reverse engineering, I've come across circuits similar to this one shown, where a diode and a rather large resistor (mega-ohms) are in parallel across the source of a signal. Here, when ...
BobaJFET's user avatar
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Transistor used in 3 GHz LNA

I've got this 3GHz RF amplifier off ebay, and I'm trying to figure out how it works. I've took the RF shield off, but the markings on the component that I assume is the transistor, are scratched off. ...
Twometer's user avatar
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Camera external trigger; What is the shutter signal?

There is a Sony RX10 III camera which also has a external trigger for it. The goal is to send a signal from a micro-controller (Arduino & optocoupler in between) to release the shutter. I thought ...
GRASBOCK's user avatar
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1 answer
504 views

Figuring out transmission protocol in cheap wireless door bell

Due to boredom I've tried some reverse engineering of simple cheap wireless ring bell which uses 433.92MHz transmitter and receiver via OOK modulation. It sends several times the same information. On ...
voldi's user avatar
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1 answer
274 views

How to reverse-engineer/find datasheet for an IC

I have an integrated circuit in the form as a DIN chip, and I have no clue what it is. I have tried searching for the markings on the chip, which are as follows: Top: HDJ2100-393 937GA1925463B2WW ...
coresdev's user avatar
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1 answer
281 views

How to decipher hex code for time data on an older serial port device

I’m using an old Draeger PAC III sensor to measure gas concentrations, with the goal of remotely transmitting the data via Arduino. Accordingly, I cannot use the proprietary software to output the ...
Research8472's user avatar
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2 answers
3k views

Monitoring serial communication and problems with my RS232 listening device

Currently I'm working on a little reverse-engineering project, where I want to understand the communication between the controlling software and a modem/DCE via serial port (RS232C). EDIT: both the ...
Tobitobitobi's user avatar
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2 answers
5k views

How do I use a 5 pin potentiometer?

I have a 5 pin trim pot I desoldered from an old board. I am assuming maybe it is a dual gang poteniometer or something with a common ground pin. Does anyone have any ideas what the actual pinouts ...
electricviolin's user avatar
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1 answer
4k views

Reverse Engineering Camtastic file to PCB in Altium

I've followed the directions found here but after the step where I extract the netlists, when I export to PCB it gives the following error. ...
Legen Diary's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
494 views

Nano Electric Receiver Switch - Circuit Components

I want to recreate the circuit board below, but I am having a hard time figuring out what components I need. I have been trying to look them up on mouser but I haven't got any results. It is called ...
AFerrara's user avatar
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2 answers
113 views

Reverse engeneering the control of an inductor

I tried to make the schematics of a toaster of mine. I don't have access to the toaster anymore but here is a part of the schematics I got. It shows the control of the inductance that acts as a magnet ...
InfiniteLooper's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
216 views

Connecting to STM32 via SWD, Reverse Engineering

I have been reverse engineering my electric longboard remote for the past couple days and have been attempting to get a ST Link V2 connecting to it via some test pads on the PCB I found. I know the ...
Conner Replogle's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
71 views

Are iCE5LP1K, iCE5LP2K and iCE5LP4K FPGAs actually the same device?

In official datasheet, iCE5LP1K has less logic elements than the larger models: However, the iCEcube2 tool shows them all to consist of 20x24 array of logic blocks, each having 8 logic elements. This ...
jpa's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
110 views

Earth Grounded 12V DC System

I'm very confused about this design i've come across in the field. A data acquisition system is powered by a 12V ACDC power brick. But then inside of the chassis is a DC-DC converter, also isolated, ...
BobaJFET's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Unknown pads on board

I'm analyzing a board for some device (game handheld console). I've found a simple SPI flash on it (W25Q) but there are 2 pads exposed for what I assume is factory testing (there are no other pads ...
Edu Garcia's user avatar
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1 answer
695 views

Some segments not working on 7 segment multi led digital clock

I have this old homemade digital clock which i'm trying to revive. It has sentimental value as it was built by my dad in his youth. The problem is 2 of the segments only sometimes light up on the ...
gedorin's user avatar
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1 answer
237 views

What kind of serial encoding is this?

I'm involved in some reverse engineering of a device I need to interface with. With what little I know, and being able to capture a single data transmission, I think I've narrowed down the encoding ...
Sparky961's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
274 views

Un-moving "static" image from VGA controller

I am reverse-engineering a daughter card which uses a ADV7125KSTZ140 VGA video DAC driven by a FPGA. The FPGA is a Xilinx Spartan 3E programmed by an off-board processor using slave-serial mode, ...
DerStrom8's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
415 views

solder-bridge at ribbon-connector?

I am currently trying to repair a pen-tablet-monitor, which has what i call a 'blind/dead row'. Meaning that i can draw everywhere, but there is this one row, where any input is either picked up by a ...
LeonTheProfessional's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

Power button behaving as OFF-(ON) momentary switch rather than latching- Troubleshooting

I have a device which doesn't turn on normally when you press the power button like it did before. You have to keep holding it down for it to remain on. As soon as you let go, it turns back off. In ...
Avid Pro Tool's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
420 views

How to interpret this CAN bus data and find an equation?

I am trying to reverse engineer the data sent from an old CAN bus data logger. It sends a single ID which is selectable from a dip switch. The only bit of data I am struggling with is the RPM I plan ...
JohnBoy's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
378 views

Replace CR2032 by li-ion reverse engineering

I want to replace my Wireless door bell by lithium-ion 3.3 V-4.2 V but I don't know if the circuit is design for that. It work with CR2032 3 V max. I think I identified Attiny85 on the PCB, I can ...
kiki67100's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
201 views

How to amplify the resistivity range of a rheostat

I have a black box DC to AC inverter with a 5 kΩ linear taper pot wired to it that acts as an LED light dimmer. I have no idea how the circuitry of the black box is composed - it is encased in a ...
Doug Coburn's user avatar

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